I recently had a blood test and now have shooting/tingling pains down my arm and hand particularly around the wrist/thumb area. The nurse involved supposedly inserted a needle into a vein at the elbow, but she must have done something wrong because I immediately felt intense pain in my hand. I'm guessing the needle either missed the vein completely or went through the vein, hitting a nerve directly below it. I thought the pain would be temporary because I didn't feel anything else later on that day, but now 4 days later I experience shooting/tingling pains when I extend the arm/twist the wrist and my arm movements are limited due to the pain. Will this pain go away and should I seek medical advice?

I'll visit the doctor next week if the pain doesn't go away over the next few days. I don't know if they can provide any treatment for this, but if it's something permanent, it needs to go on my record.

Recently, I was having a cannula inserted into a vein and, having had so many previous ones, the doctor was struggling to find a fresh site. The one he chose was quite near the bone and it hurt like hell and had to be removed when my arm went numb. It took a couple of weeks before the sensations you describe finally subsided.

I got an apology and was warned that nerve damage can be slow to heal. Hope it's better soon.

Well, it's good to hear that yours healed, it brings some hope. I always thought nerve damage was permanent but I'll wait and see. If the pain doesn't go away over the weekend I'll visit the doctor. Thanks

Hey, it's a relief to hear that your pain has gone and that it went back to normal. 5 days ago I had my blood drawn on the elbow side of the arm. Immediately when the needle was inserted, I felt an electric shock on my hand near my wrist and under the tumb area. I felt pain and sore on my whole arm through the first and the second day. Three days later, I felt shock like an electric current at the same spots when I extend my arm. Same feeling like you have had. How long till it all went away and your hand back to normal?

Hi Brad983, I’ve just experienced the exact same thing, last week I had a blood test and had to ask the nurse to remove it because of the shooting pain down my arm. I’ve seen that this was 23 days ago, so I just wondered if your pain has gone? I’m getting a little worried as the pain in my arm seems to be getting worse.

Hi. I am feeling this same as all of the above. How is your pain? I just had it done 4 days ago and seems to be getting worse. Especially when I lift anything heavy, extend my arm or go to the gym. Hoping it won't take a month to feel better!!

A nurse inserted the needle in to my tendon, intense pain, even though I was on morphine, I had a tingling sensation, which lasted 3 days. Months later I began to feel a severe aching pain in the crook and down my arm, enough to wake me up during the night. Now 14 years later it's a weak point and on occasion has flared up. I've had Physiotherapy, which hasn't resolved the weakness and if I have to lift a heavy object there's always a risk involved.